no 
CASTRATION. 
that which it ought to be. The male loses some of the attributes 
of his sex. The ox possesses not the voice of the bull, and his 
horns are lengthened and his legs weakened. The horse ceases 
to retain the commanding expression of his countenance, and 
his neigh has lost its deep tone. The hog in a word in them 
all, if there is not a real diminution of muscular force, there is 
a want of vital and mental energy. 
Castration is followed by fewest serious accidents, when it is 
performed on young subjects; and it influences least the growth 
of the animal, and the development of his powers, when the 
animal approaches to the adult age. 
When castration is not rendered necessary by any pathologi- 
cal state of the animal, the autumn or the spring should, if 
possible, be chosen for the operation, when the temperature of 
the atmosphere is generally uniform and moderate. 
When it is an operation of mere convenience, it should be 
previously ascertained that the animal is in perfect health, and he 
must not have been fatigued by long and painful labour. He should 
be prepared on the preceding night by undisturbed rest, and mash 
diet, and bleeding if he is in a plethoric state, or is an animal of 
high courage. The age at which he will with most advantage 
undergo the operation is a circumstance deservingof consideration. 
The colt should not be cut before he is four or five months old, be- 
cause his testicles have not descended into the scrotum until that 
period ; and if he is of a weakly form and constitution, the operation 
should be delayed until the fourth or fifth year. Lambs or goats 
may be castrated at the age of from eight to fifteen months, but 
it is sometimes deferred until they are sixteen months old. 
Calves are occasionally kept until they are eighteen months or 
two years of age ; but pigs are submitted to the knife at fifteen 
or twenty days after birth. 
Bulls are castrated between two and four years of age, and 
cats and dogs as soon as it can be conveniently performed. 
The operation is performed in different ways on different 
kinds of animals, and according to their age, their sex, and 
other circumstances. 
I. — Castration by simple Division of the Spermatic 
Cord. 
IF THE ANIMAL IS ONLY EIGHT OR TEN DAYS OLD. 
1. Lambs . — An incision is made at the bottom of the scro- 
tum — the testicles are drawn through it, and cut off, or by some 
practitioners torn off. If he is older than ten days, the edges of 
the wound arc brought together by the finger and thumb of the 
